OMNISPORT

Argentina's Javier Mascherano acknowledged his teammates' frustrations at failing to hit the heights thus far in the Copa America as they prepare to face Colombia in the last eight on Friday. 

Gerardo Martino's side scored just four goals on their way to topping Group B, despite boasting arguably the tournament's finest forward line, but face a Colombia side who have found the target just once in three outings.

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With defending champions Uruguay bowing out and Brazil shorn of suspended captain Neymar, Argentina's hopes have been bolstered in recent days.

A potential semifinal meeting with Brazil awaits Martino's men, although the former Barcelona coach will be keen for the World Cup finalists to find top gear against the competition's tightest defence.

"Football is about knowing what each situation requires," Mascherano explained.

"It's not easy when you go, you go forward and you find two lines of five. When you are looking to create this is much more difficult to break down.

"When you try to create and every attempt fails, you can get down but it takes patience and conviction and playing even if it costs.

"We have the players to do well."

In the Colombia camp, Jose Pekerman will likely consider his attacking options, having seen Radamel Falcao continue to misfire during Sunday's goalless draw with Peru.

Teo Gutierrez and Carlos Bacca have both been selected to partner the Monaco man up front to no avail, although Pekerman remains under pressure to restore James Rodriguez to the central playmaking role in which he flourished at the World Cup.

Victor Ibarbo - whose teammate Edwin Valencia misses out with a knee injury - explained this week that Colombia will take collective responsibility for their shortcomings in front of goal.

"We will be prepared for everything and when we play we will respond in the best way," he said.

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"The team is like a family and everyone is in agreement that it doesn't matter who scores because this is a collective process.

"The nice thing about this group is that they are all available for what the coach requires. Argentina are an excellent team, one of the favourites to win the Copa.

"They make only a small amount of errors and we must seize on them if we are to get a result."

Colombia have beaten Argentina just once in their last 11 meetings - a 2-1 victory in World Cup qualifying in Bogota eight years ago, Ruben Bustos and Dayro Moreno overturning Lionel Messi's opener.

MATCH FACTS

• Argentina fired more shots on target than any other side during the group phase (18).
• No side attempted more crosses (including corners) in the group phase than Colombia (70, as many as Ecuador).
• Argentina had the highest percentage of possession of the group phase (70.31%).
• Colombia won the most fouls in the Copa America group phase this year (61).
• Colombia scored fewer goals than any other quarterfinalist during the group phase (one).
• Argentina have lost just two of their twelve Copa America games against Colombia (W7 D3).
• Colombia are the only side to have conceded eight or more goals twice against Argentina in the Copa America (9-1 in 1945 and 8-2 in 1957).
• Only three of the last ten Argentina goals against Colombia in the Copa America came in the second half.
• Argentina have gone seven games without a defeat in the Copa America (W3 D4).
• Argentina have scored in all their Copa America quarter-finals while it has been in its current format.
• The Cafeteros have scored in just one of their last four Copa America games and they kept clean sheets in the last two.
• Colombia are, alongside Peru, the only side to have won a group phase game with just one shot on target fired.
• Agüero, Argentinean top goalscorer in the 2011 Copa America (three), is also the Argentinean top goalscorer in 2015 so far (two).
• Jeison Murillo scored against Brazil the only Colombia goal in the group phase with his only shot on target so far in the tournament.
• James Rodriguez is the only Colombian player to have fired more than one shot on target in the Copa America group phase (two).
• Lionel Messi has been the player with the most successful passes in the opposite half of the group phase (142).
• Among players with more than 200 passes, Javier Mascherano had the highest passing accuracy (92.74%).